South Portland officials to mull pros, cons of proposed development moratorium
File Photo / William Hall
South Portland is considering a six-month freeze on development, prompted by recent projects including a proposed 12-unit residential development that would abut the Portland Pipe Line Corp. storage facility, shown here. The complex would be sited to the right of the trees in the photo.
South Portland officials will meet Tuesday to discuss a proposed six-month moratorium on development in the city — as well as alternatives to a construction freeze.
The joint workshop of the City Council and Planning Board, and an initial discussion by the council two weeks ago, are in response to a recommendation floated by the city’s Conservation Commission and the South Portland Land Trust. In August the two groups requested that South Portland temporarily halt development projects of more than two units, retroactive to May, because of concerns about scarce green space and the effect of development on climate.
The request doesn’t specify what type of development would be suspended. But both groups cited two multifamily housing plans that would involve uprooting trees and vegetation on a total of 2.6 acres of woodland.
The projects, for 13 condominiums at 81 Surfsite Road and a 12-apartment complex at 66 Evans St., both received preliminary approval by the Planning Board in recent months.
The six-month moratorium is intended to buy time for South Portland lawmakers to consider other measures to preserve open space in the city. Among the possibilities, as outlined in a staff memo: developing a tree protection ordinance; acquiring more open space, perhaps through the existing Open Space Acquisition Committee; or requiring an environmental impact statement as part of future development plans.
Councilors also want to explore alternatives to a moratorium, such as passing a tree protection ordinance without suspending development projects in the meantime.
Proceeding without the six-month freeze “would avoid the significant negative impacts associated with a moratorium,” according to a memo from Planning Director Milan Nevajda and Sustainability Director Julie Rosenbach. Among the potential impacts: delays in the addition of affordable housing, legal challenges and a change in the city’s bond rating.
Besides not specifying what type of development would be affected, the moratorium proposal doesn’t make clear at what stage of development it would apply. A total of 78 projects, dating to 2019 and including the Surfsite Road and Evans Street ones, are currently in the Planning Board review pipeline.
The joint City Council and Planning Board workshop is scheduled as part of the council’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. It will be held virtually and access information is available here.
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